Carol Ellen Green

Carol Ellen Green passed away on the morning of March 4, 2026, under the gentle care of Hospice at Avante of Orlando. She is survived by her sister Ann and brother-in-law Elmer Sbach, her brother Robert, her nephew William Sbach and his wife Malia, and their sons Theo and Sam. She also leaves behind her Aunt Betty Green and cousins, her Uncle Del and Aunt Tina Greer and their family, along with many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Alice Green, and her nephew Robert Sbach.

A fifth-generation San Franciscan, Carol’s early life was shaped by both challenge and adventure. Born with a dislocated hip, she spent more than a year in a body cast as a child and underwent additional surgery as a teenager. Her childhood revolved around St. John’s Lutheran School, family picnics in Golden Gate Park, and vacations to the Santa Cruz mountains, Russian River, and Napa Valley. The arrival of her brother Robert when she was nine completed their family of five.

Carol embraced life as a free spirit who constantly reinvented herself. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was drawn to the vibrant scene in Haight-Ashbury, where she worked at the Matrix nightclub and spent time with musicians, including members of the Grateful Dead. She held a deep love for the music of Bob Dylan and the Beatles, especially John Lennon, and paid her respects at the Dakota after his death. Her passion for archaeology led her to participate in excavations at Tel-Dan in Israel, where the team uncovered the first historical evidence of King David. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in archaeology from the University of Michigan in 1981.

Later in Florida, Carol worked as a Senior Community Corrections Officer for Orange County from 1988 to 1994, where she was nominated for Probation Officer of the Year. She then pursued her love of vintage fashion by opening and operating The Pink Flamingo, a vintage clothing store she ran with joy for five years. Returning to public service, she served as a Communications Officer with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, earning multiple Employee of the Month awards. In 2010 she embraced sobriety through AA, remaining active in the program for sixteen years and forming lasting friendships. In retirement she continued her work with vintage clothing, mastering photography, lighting, and online sales. She cherished travels with Ann to North Carolina, England, and their beloved San Francisco, where they revisited old neighborhoods and enjoyed Dungeness crab. Above all, she treasured her family, especially her grandnephews Theo and Sam, who brought her great joy. Those who knew her remember Carol as an inspiring, one-of-a-kind soul—sweet, spunky, spiritual, sassy, and deeply kind. She will live forever in the hearts of all who loved her.